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Aerosol measurement: principles, techniques, and applications.

The measurement of aerosols has been practiced widely for several decades. Until recently, the development of new measurement methods was primarily motivated by the need to evaluate particulate pollution control devices, and to find better means of monitoring indoor and outdoor aerosols. During the past several years, industry has become increasingly interested in modern aerosol measurement methods, not only to protect the health of their workers, as required by law, but to increase productivity and, thereby, gain competitive advantage. For instance, in the production of semiconductor circuit boards a single submicrometer-sized particle may spoil the circuit if it adheres to the board where a circuit of submicrometer dimensions is being deposited. As a consequence, the number of undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in aerosol science and measurement has increased dramatically in recent years. The increased importance of this field is also evidenced by the creation and rapid growth of aerosol research associations, such as the American Association for Aerosol Research, the European Association for Aerosol Research (Gesellschaft fur Aerosolforschung, Association pour la Recherche des Aerosols), Japan Association of Aerosol Science and Technology, and several other national associations.